Pensioner in plea to graffiti vandals

On Tuesday, the words ‘Touts Need SHOOT?’ (sic) appeared on the side of the property in Glenlea Park. The next day, vandals struck again, adding the words, ‘A Fruit’, to the graffiti.

The man who lives in the property said the graffiti was a “bad job”.

Speaking to the ‘Journal’, the man said: “I’m not happy. I’m a pensioner and I’ve lived here since 1986. I don’t think too much of it, but it’s a bad job. “

The man said he wished that those behind the graffiti would stop.

“It does annoy me. I just want them to stop and leave it alone,” he said.

A spokesperson for the Glens Community Association said: “Nobody knows why this has appeared, but everyone who has mentioned it feels the same. They don’t want this, nobody does, and I’m appealing to whoever is behind it to stop.”

Local politicians condemned those behind the graffiti.

Cathal Ó hOisín, Sinn Fein MLA, said: “While the addition of ‘A Fruit’ may seem funny, the people who did this must consider the person who lives in this house and how this is affecting them and the effort it will take to clear this mess up.”

SDLP councillor Gerry Mullan said: “Not only is the sentiment ridiculous, but the grammar is appalling. It indicates that, either the perpetrator is very young and cannot spell, or they are not very smart. It is mindless vandalism and it sums up the mentality of those who did it. It is not wanted in the area by anyone and those behind it need to stop it.”

Sinn Fein Colr. Brenda Chivers said: “This is not the first time there has been graffiti in the Glens and I would appeal to those who are doing it to wise up and stop,” said Colr. Chivers.

“There is a ridiculous element to it in that whoever painted the graffiti on the wall can’t spell. However, there is also a sinister element to it which has to be condemned. The Ballyquin Road is the main road into Limavady from Dungiven, and it doesn’t look good for the area to have graffiti such as this on the wall of a house that everyone can see. Whoever is behind this needs to stop.”

DUP Alderman Alan Robinson, writing on his Facebook page, said: “Oh, spare me with your idle threats. Surely we’re better than this.”

Police have confirmed that they are investigating the incident.